Winter Asthma Hacks
What are your tips and tricks for managing asthma during the winter season?
Basically, I wear a scarf anytime it's in the 40s. If I don't cover my mouth in that cold and/or wind, I get asthma symptoms. It was that cold this morning when I took the pups I'm sitting for out and I feel it over an hour later now. >.>
Thanks for sharing your asthma hack. I've heard many members of our community reporting that they also wear a scarf when the weather gets colder. I'm glad that you have found that this works well for you! -Lauren (team member)
I personally love the cold but this yr I think it's starting to affect my asthma abit. I'll be wearing a ski mask/gater this yr along with my face mask since the pandemic.
great tip Libra! I too have reacted this year with worsened asthma and the cold weather. Taking precautions is definitely the route to take. I hope the mask/gator and face mask work to ease up your symptoms. I have seen improvement by using a scarf as a mask on early morning dog walks. Thanks for sharing - wishing you the best this December. Rebecca (team member)
I really try and remember to keep air from entering through my ears. Ear muffs are cool, they just look ridiculous. A scarf wrapped around ears does it. If I don't during the winter months ...my asthma symptoms are triggered with a series of sneezing, and ear popping, scratching, eye watering. What a life. 🥶
Smart idea using a scarf to wrap your ears! Thanks for sharing your tip. All the best, Lauren (team member)
I also wear a scarf when outside, have air purifiers on my furnace and also portable ones, and try to keep the humidity at a decent level, although this is not easy with the furnace on. I keep the heat at 63 or so at night which helps and use long-term inhaler more in the winter. Also I have the house cleaned often to keep dust mites down. I used to run all winter - even in single digits, which may be why I got asthma (I got it after I started running). I don't run anymore. Where I live we have cold, dry winters and humid warm summers - so neither is ideal for asthma.
Me too, in the winter with the humidity lower, I function better. We had a bad summer for asthma I basically stayed in, had groceries delivered, when the air quality was bad. I have a double whammy, also copd, have to. Think I will do the scarf, tho, the cold temps and wind can be brutal. I also have my apt. cleaned twice a month. I am retired, so I don’t have to go out if the weather is bad. Live in an apt. Community with activities ( that I can join when I feel good) on a main thoroughfare so there is exhaust, keep windows closed year round. Our owners will not have air ducts cleaned. I have an air purifier , also use cpap. Adapting to difficult seasons can be difficult. But it sounds like you’re doing everything you can to take care of yourself, especially with both asthma and COPD. Staying inside when summer brings bad air quality and when winter brings on the cold air seems a useful strategy for you. You've indeed been proactive in maintaining better health. Kudos! I hope this allows you to continue to participate in community activities on days when environmental triggers are low and you feel well enough to participate. Maybe you can find a way to persuade the owners to clean the ducts. But you are doing what you can to keep the air around you clean. Wishing you the best in the New Year. Rebecca (team member)
